Trump Declines to Run for President, Cites 'Passion' for Business

Did I call this or what? I knew he wasn't going to run. You can't tell me that he suddenly discovered his "passion" for business. Donald Trump has had a "passion" for business since he was about 2 years old.

I don't think he had any intention of running. But he got a lot of press out of the deal and he got to dog on obama on national TV... a lot. I'm not mad at him...

From FoxNews

The Donald has fired himself from the 2012 presidential race.

Donald Trump announced Monday that he will not run for president, saying he does not want to leave the private sector and would like to continue hosting his show, "The Celebrity Apprentice." The real estate mogul and reality TV star announced his decision on the day he was meeting with NBC executives to discuss the future of the show. Trump said Monday afternoon that "The Celebrity Apprentice" has made a lot of money for charity and he wanted to continue in that role.

"I will not be running for president as much as I'd like to," Trump said.

Trump, in a written statement, said he would not fade from the political spotlight, but cited his "passion" for business in his decision not to enter the 2012 Republican field. In trademark Trump fashion, he maintained he could have won the election if he wanted to.

"This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country," Trump said. "I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and, ultimately, the general election. I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half-heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector."

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Donald Trump for President?

I heard Trump on the radio today. Everything he said made a lot of sense and I found myself agreeing with him on almost all the issues discussed.

I have no doubt that from an economy perspective he would be an asset to our Country. He would fix the trade imbalances we have with many countries. He would create a pro-business environment that would allow businesses in this Country to hire new employees and grow. He would create a sense of stability in the business world.

I also believe he would strive to make our Country energy independent. He understands that as long as we rely on foreign oil we are vulnerable to the uncertainties that go along with that. Energy is the life blood of our economy and our Country.

Would he be a positive force in the foreign policy arena? Who knows. He has had business dealings with countries all over the world, but business is different than human rights negotiations or many of the other obstacles we face when dealing with countries outside of our own.

And the big question for me, is he serious? Or is this all a publicity stunt for the next season of Apprentice?

It would have to be a tough transition from CEO of a major corporation to the restrictive role of president. It was more than Ross Perot was willing to undertake.

I guess if Trump became the nominee, I would vote for him, but I just have this nagging suspicion that he isn't as serious as he would like us to believe.

Can Donald Trump Save America?

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time taking Donald Trump seriously as a presidential candidate. I'm not 100% convinced he takes it seriously either. Has he even announced a run? I remember Ross Perot. I always thought he would have made a good president. Business experience would be a big plus, but more than that is required. Donald Trump has done lots of work in foreign countries, he has an idea of what foreign policy should look like. I'm just afraid this is going to be a publicity stunt...

by Jason Mattera - Human Events

“Look at everything I’ve built,” he said, while pointing to framed pictures of palatial properties around the world, from Panama City to Abu Dhabi to Chicago. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

That’s Donald Trump for you: gregariously proud. And why shouldn’t he be? The hotels and condos he was boasting about are, in fact, beautiful. For that matter, so was the view overlooking Central Park from the 25th floor of Trump Tower in New York City.

And it is exactly that hard-charging bravado, candor, and proven track record that Trump believes could catapult him to the highest office in the land. “I have a big ID, big recognition, maybe the highest there is among any candidate, some say of any candidate including the President,” he brags.

Who can disagree with that? The real estate mogul is an American icon. There’s “The Apprentice,” “Celebrity Apprentice, “Miss Universe,” “Miss USA,” “Miss Teen USA,” his fashion line, the inestimable hair, and his awesomely awesome public feud with Rosie O’Donnell. (“She’s unattractive, both inside and out.”)

When you hear “The Donald,” you automatically know who’s being talked about. Now that’s cachet.

But President of the United States? Is that really in the realm of possibility for Donald Trump?

Several of us from HUMAN EVENTS spent 45 minutes with him at his Fifth Avenue luxury office in Manhattan. What you’re about to read is an account of how serious he is regarding a presidential run, an uncut look into the billionaire’s bluntness about America’s wilting image in the world, and what exactly he would do to revitalize it. He doesn’t run away from his criticism of the Bush administration, nor does he back down about his campaign contributions to influential Democrats over the years. He speaks on the importance of religion in his life (“I am a believer”), America’s crumbling infrastructure (LaGuardia Airport in NYC is “Third World”), his pro-life conversion, the declining dollar, entitlements (his plan to fund them is, um, novel), and much more. Some of his views will anger free-market purists and other views will draw sharp criticism from Iraq and Afghanistan war evangelists.

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